The Bitter-Sweet Divorce Between ECOWAS and AES

After expelling them from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the undemocratic transfer of power, they accepted and decided to move on. The result was the birth of the AES.

When ECOWAS sanctioned Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger by expelling them from the economic group, it never imagined that it was a final goodbye.

Ok, Wednesday, January 19, ECOWAS completely acknowledged and signed the divorce paper, giving Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger the ability to engage in other relationships.

Three years ago, ECOWAS removed these military junta-led states after they toppled the democratically elected governments.

The sanction aimed to teach a lesson and deprived them of certain benefits due to their unruly actions.

It was painful for these three states. But they couldn’t fold their arms and wait on when their husband, ECOWAS, would take them back.

So,they accepted and initiated a healing process thereby forming their own group called the Alliance of Sahel States known by French acronym as AES.

How the Tables Turned

The creation of the group sent a signal to ECOWAS that they were not willing to come back to the Union.

Suddenly, the tables turned, and ECOWAS was now the one begging them to stay. 

To ECOWAS surprise, the members of AES had moved on. 

ECOWAS in some form of appeasement gave them time to think before it could sign the divorce paper.

It still did not mean anything. The AES might have learned from former British PM Boris Johnson.

When Britain was leaving EU, Johnson had this popular slogan with Theresa May that “Brexit Means Brexit” 

So, this time, it may be time for ECOWAS to accept the reality and move on too, which is pretty difficult.

In their final divorce paper, they still had hopes of the AES members rejoining ECOWAS.

ECOWAS decided that it will continue to guarantee the free movement of citizens of those countries to the ECOWAS bloc. and that it will continue to accept goods and treat everything relating to the AES members like they never left.

Hopes of a Return

That is in the hopes that the AES members will one day come back. 

These countries fell out with ECOWAS because they say it was being influenced by France and, two, because ECOWAS was asking them to return to civilian rule.

Shockingly, the civilians of these junta-led governments, like Burkina Faso, instead like the military leaders.

With blessings from the citizens, there are no hopes of any soon return to civilian rule or ECOWAS.

The story of ECOWAS and AES is just like that of a husband who catches a cheating wife and sends her away with hopes that she will regret and repent and be accepted back home. 

Yet, the wife instead likes it and is moving in with the man she was cheating with.

Knowing that he would lose her, the husband rushes begging her to come back even if she has not repented or regretted her actions.

But it is too late.

Mimi Mefo Info